Haematoxylin-eosin stained, 5-µm-thick sections of ileal (top panels, A–D) and colonic (bottom panels, E–H) mucosa of Zucker-lean<sup>+/<i>fa</i></sup> and Zucker-Lepr<i><sup>fa/fa</sup></i> rats that were fed either a placebo or LAB strains for 30 days.
<p>Two rats per group were used for this staining. Three pieces of tissue from each animal were fixed and embedded in the same paraffin block. Four to 8 sections per block were cut, stained and analyzed. Representative micrographs from various groups are shown. A and E: Zucker-lean<sup>+/<i>fa</i></sup> rats at baseline; B and F: Zucker-Lepr<i><sup>fa/fa</sup></i> rats + placebo; C and G: Zucker-Lepr<i><sup>fa/fa</sup></i> rats +<i>L. rhamnosus</i>; and D and H: Zucker-Lepr<i><sup>fa/fa</sup></i> rats + LAB mixture.</p
